Internship Guidelines and Forms

INTERNSHIPS - An internship is a career-related work experience that enhances a student's academic training and provides a real world introduction to the student's chosen academic major. An internship is not the same thing as a summer job. The College expects sponsors of internship experiences for credit to provide career related experiences that are of sufficient challenge to college-level students. The College expects that no more than 20% of the internship should be clerical in nature.

So that prospective students seeking internships have enough information to be able to evaluate the opportunity and make a decision as to whether or not they should apply and possibly seek academic credit for the experience, internship sponsors should provide the Center for Career Services complete internship descriptions that are similar to normal job descriptions. To clarify the issue of "employment" in the area of internships, please review this Six-Part Test. (or visit the DOL website at: http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs71.htm). At a minimum, internship job descriptions must articulate the professional nature of work expected and the willingness of the internship sponsor to provide on-site supervision of the intern.

International students must see the Director of International Student Affairs before accepting an internship, or freelance, part-time or full-time work. All international student employment is subject to USCIS (U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services) approval. For any internship involving credit, all forms must be submitted and approved prior to registering for the internship.Institutional Statement on Compensation - As taking an unpaid internship may constitute an economic hardship for students, and thereby may limit the pool of qualified candidates, the College strongly encourages internship sponsors to pay their interns. It is the explicit policy of the College that the receipt of academic credit in addition to wages (or other compensation) for an internship does not represent a conflict of interest.* Additional information from the National Association of Colleges and Employers - https://www.naceweb.org/j112013/unpaid-internship-legal.aspx

INTERNSHIP SOURCES - The Center for Career Services provides job / internship websites, directories and search tools to help students identify appropriate options. Internship hosts looking for Ringling College students specifically are also posted to your COLLEGE CENTRAL NETWORK account.

Review the JOB / INTERNSHIP PREPARATION tutorial and resources for Ringling College students and alumni in: "YOUR PROFESSIONAL TOOLBOX"

*Understanding Required Internships - For internships that are required in a program of study, majors have specific guidelines regarding student eligibility for participation. As guidelines may change, students must check with their Academic Department Head. Students need work with their Academic Advisor in Advising, Records, & Registration Services to ensure that they qualify and are appropriately registered.

*Understanding Non-Credit and Elective Credit Internships - The College strongly encourages students to pursue internships. In general, the College believes that such experiences offer students the opportunity for substantive and relevant work experience in a professional field and that such experience may be eligible for some type of credit when properly demonstrated through complete project work evaluated by a faculty member.

Students may pursue internships that are non-credit without faculty supervision; however, credit for any internship experience must be linked to performance in line with academic expectations; and therefore, some type of faculty advisory support and department head approval, in line with the type of internship experience, whether paid or unpaid, must be documented.

Faculty supervision and review is the primary determinant for awarding credit. The distinctions between those internships awarded as elective credit and those for credit in the major, is the location and degree of faculty and department head oversight, as well as the focus of the internship itself. In either case, in order to award credit, agreements for scope of work, supervision and review are coordinated in advance of the student’s experience in the internship and approved by a department head.

EARN CREDIT for your INTERNSHIP - ALL MAJORS - INT 301 - INTERSHIP EXPERIENCECourse Description: This internship course meets with a faculty member in the fall semester to review the work done during summer internships and allows students to convert practical experience and knowledge developed in the field to the completion of a project that can earn elective credit. Students may receive up to 3 course credits if review of the internship experience and its subsequent project demonstrates adherence to established College and departmental criteria. Grading is on a Credit/No Credit basis. Students are permitted to apply and obtain credit for up to two "INT 301 internships" - however restrictions may apply according to a students individual major, and requirements for curricular or co-curricular internships. Check with your department head about internships for credit.

* The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), representing more than 3,000 higher education institutions and employing organizations, recognizes the enormous value of internship programs to individual student participants and both the higher education and employer communities. We believe that the U.S Department of Labor criteria for assessing whether internships in the for-profit sector may be unpaid must be reviewed and further clarified to ensure they account for the incredible diversity of students, higher education institutions, and employing organizations involved in such programs. Further, all interns, regardless of their compensation, should enjoy similar, basic protections in the work setting consistent with all laws, ethical considerations, and sound business practices.